NRL 2024: Wests Tigers rookie Lachlan Galvin opens up on Parramatta Eels snub, debut dream

Lachlan Galvin always dreamt of pulling on a blue and gold jersey in the NRL, but the Eels has other ideas. Now his Parramatta snub is inspiring the young gun to make an impact at the Tigers.

Lachlan Galvin Wests Tigers Pathways 2023 SG Ball Wests Magpies Photos Warren Gannon Photography

Lachlan Galvin had his heart broken by Parramatta.

Galvin, the Wests Tigers teenage prodigy who has been tipped to make a big impact this season, grew up an Eels fan.

Played in their junior system too. His plan was to pull on a blue and gold jersey in the NRL one day. The Eels had other ideas.

“I was a Parra fan growing up,” Galvin said.

“I played there for four years, in the development squad for Parramatta. I didn’t really get a run. They kind of said, ‘You’re probably not needed here, can’t find a spot for you’.

“That hurt. I was off Parra for a fair bit. I was a massive Parra fan. That was one of the reasons I went over there. But it probably helped me in a way.

“It got me out of my comfort zone. I came over here, made great mates here and probably played my best footy here.”

Wests Tigers rookie Lachlan Galvin starring for the Wests Magpies in the SG Ball in 2023. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography.

Galvin is coming to the end of a pre-season where he has made everyone at the Tigers sit up and take notice. The 18-year-old was one of the players of the carnival at last year’s Australian Schoolboy titles and his name has been whispered in the corridors at Concord throughout a taxing pre-season under rookie coach Benji Marshall.

Marshall is among his biggest fans and has made it clear that Galvin will get his chance in the trials to show what he can do. The halves spots at the Tigers are wide open heading into the season and whoever stands up over the next fortnight will get the jobs.

Galvin wants to be one of them.

“It gives me confidence – confidence that he (Marshall) believes in me,” Galvin said.
“It is mad that he has faith in me and if I keep training well and play well in the trials, I might play. I am confident that if I come out and play good in the trials, and Benji thinks I am the right man for the job, I will put my best foot forward and do my best for the team.

“If Benji doesn't want that and wants to go with other halves, I am fine with that. I think I am ready. I am confident in myself.

“That is up to Benji and whatever he thinks is best for the team, I have to live with that. Coming here, facing up against the bigger boys, I felt like I have trained pretty well.

“I am a pretty confident kid. I give myself a shot. As I said, it is up to Benji and what he wants.”

Galvin played his juniors for the Eels before being told there was no place for him at Parramatta. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography

Marshall wants to win, just like everyone else at the Tigers, It has been a barren decade but Galvin is part of a new guard who have emerged from the lower grades with premierships to their name.

The NRL side has been shrouded in failure but Galvin only knows winning. After being dumped by Parramatta, he was lured to the Tigers by Wayne Lambkin, at the time his coach at Westfields Sports High.

One of his teammates was Tigers recruit Latu Fainu.

The pair played three years together at high school and never lost a game. Now they are locked in a battle for one of the spots in the halves.

Jayden ‘Bud’ Sullivan and Aidan Sezer are there as well. Next year, serial winner Jarome Luai will join them.

“There is two spots up for grabs each game and I will back myself to train hard and play good,” Galvin said.

“I have grown up with Latu. I am good mates with him. I have become good mates with Bud. Luai is obviously a three-time premiership half and I will learn a lot off him as well.

“As a junior here, I think it was mad that the club looks at us to help this club out and get it back to where it was.

“It is a good challenge. That is why I think we have been training so good. Us junior boys have been winning a lot. We want to keep winning.

“We don’t want to come up here and lose.”

Benji Marshall has made it clear that Galvin will get his chance in the trials to show what he can do. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Galvin still lives at home with his parents and while he grew up a Parramatta fan, he idolised Melbourne and Queensland star Cameron Munster.

“I love Munster,” he said.

“I like the way he plays – I probably play a bit like him. I looked up to him a lot. Eyes up, if I am going to do it, do it 100 per cent.

“If I make an error, I don’t get too fussed about – just play the next play and try it again.”

There’s also shades of Marshall about the way Galvin sees the game.

Marshall played with carefree confidence in his prime and although Galvin was born only four months before the club’s 2005 premiership win, he concedes he was an avid viewer of Marshall’s highlights reel.

“As a kid when you are eight, nine, and you watch the likes of Benji Marshall’s highlights before you play, it is good, it is mad,” Galvin said.

“He was an off-the-cuff type of five-eighth and I am a bit like that.”

Time is on Galvin’s side and he is willing to be patient. If the chance comes, he will be ready.

“Whenever Benji gives me the opportunity to debut, I will take that with both hands,” Galvin said.

“All I want to do is help the team out as much as I can, play my best footy and enjoy it. I play footy because it is fun, I enjoy and love it.

“It has been my goal since I was eight or nine – rugby league, rugby league. That’s all I do. It is mad coming straight out of school and I am here every day training.

“I am 100 per cent living the dream. I have mates who are going to work and I am saying I am going to train alongside Benji Marshall, Api Koroisau, Johnny Bateman.”

Originally published as NRL 2024: Wests Tigers rookie Lachlan Galvin opens up on Parramatta Eels snub, debut dream